Systems and methods for graphical control of user interface features in a television receiver

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods provide for graphically providing features on a set top box (STB) or other television receiver in response to viewer instructions received from a remote control. Imagery including various tiles each corresponding to one of the provided features is presented on the display. A two-dimensional input is received from the remote control that indicates a selected one of the plurality of tiles, and, in response to the received two-dimensional input, the feature associated with the selected tile is provided.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to user interfaces in televisionreceiver devices, and more particularly relates to systems and methodsfor providing graphical adjustment and control of user interfacefeatures provided by a television receiver device.

BACKGROUND

Most television viewers now receive their television signals through acontent aggregator such as a cable or satellite television provider. Forsubscribers to a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) service, for example,television programming is received via a broadcast that is sent via asatellite to an antenna that is generally located on the exterior of ahome or other structure. Other customers receive television programmingthrough conventional television broadcasts, or through cable, wirelessor other media. Programming is typically received at a receiver such asa “set top box” (STB) or other receiver that demodulates the receivedsignals and converts the demodulated content into a format that can bepresented to the viewer on a television or other display. In addition toreceiving and demodulating television programming, many televisionreceivers are able to provide additional features. Examples of featuresavailable in many modern television receivers include electronic programguides (EPGs), digital or other personal video recorders,“place-shifting” features for streaming received content over a networkor other medium, providing customer service information and/or the like.

Generally speaking, viewers interact with the STB or other receiverusing some sort of user interface that receives inputs from a remotecontrol or other input device. To change a channel, for example, theviewer typically depresses a “channel up/down” button, manually enters anumber of a desired channel on a numeric keypad, and/or selects the newchannel using a program guide feature of the receiver. Alternatively,viewers can often seek out programs using an EPG feature provided by thereceiver. In general, the viewer tunes programs, selects features andotherwise interacts with the television receiver using conventionalbuttons on a remote control.

While conventional interfaces are useful for many purposes, thereremains a continual desire for more efficient and intuitive userinterfaces to the various features provided by the receiver. Inparticular, there is a desire to provide convenient access to userinterface features using more advanced input techniques. It is thereforedesirable to create systems and methods for improving the viewerinterface to the television receiver. These and other desirable featuresand characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent detaileddescription and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings and this background section.

BRIEF SUMMARY

According to various exemplary embodiments, systems and methods areprovided for graphically providing numeric inputs or other controls aset-top box (STB) or other video receiver.

In various embodiments, a method is provided for graphically features ona set top box (STB) or other television receiver in response to viewerinstructions received from a remote control. Imagery including varioustiles each corresponding to one of the provided features is presented onthe display. A two-dimensional input is received from the remote controlthat indicates a selected one of the plurality of tiles, and, inresponse to the received two-dimensional input, the feature associatedwith the selected tile is provided.

In further embodiments, a method is provided for selecting a desiredchannel in a television receiver configured to present imagery on adisplay in response to viewer instructions transmitted from a remotecontrol. The method comprises presenting the imagery on the display,wherein the imagery comprises a plurality of tiles each corresponding toone of the plurality of features, receiving a two-dimensional input fromthe remote control that indicates a selected one of the plurality oftiles, wherein the selected one of the plurality of tiles has anassociated channel number, and, in response to the receivedtwo-dimensional input, tuning the television receiver to the associatedchannel number to thereby present programming from the desired channelon the display.

Still other embodiments provide a video receiver for presenting imageryon a display in response to viewer input signals provided from a remotecontrol. The receiver comprises a receiver interface configured toreceive an incoming modulated signal, a decoder configured to decode theincoming modulated signal to extract a video signal, a wireless receiverconfigured to receive the viewer input signals from the remote control,wherein the viewer input is a two-dimensional input, and a processor.The processor is configured generate the imagery presented on thedisplay, wherein the imagery comprises a plurality of tiles eachcorresponding to one of the plurality of features. The processor isfurther configured to receive the viewer input signals from the remotecontrol, and, in response to the received two-dimensional inputindicating a selected one of the plurality of tiles, to provide thefeature associated with the selected tile.

Various other embodiments, aspects and other features are described inmore detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

Exemplary embodiments will hereinafter be described in conjunction withthe following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote likeelements, and

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary television receiver system;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary television receiver device;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of an exemplary screen display for receiving andprocessing inputs from the viewer; and

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an exemplary process for manipulatingreceived viewer inputs in a television receiver or other device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description of the invention is merely exemplaryin nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the applicationand uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to bebound by any theory presented in the preceding background or thefollowing detailed description.

Generally speaking, the viewer is able to access channels, programs,program guide information, placeshifting features, customer servicefeatures and/or any other features through a graphical user interfacethat includes various tiles that can be selected using a two-dimensionalinput device. In various embodiments, the viewer manipulates a touchpador other two-dimensional input feature incorporated within a remotecontrol to direct a cursor toward one or more tiles. By selecting thetile, a feature associated with the tile can be accessed. Features thatcan be associated with tiles include tuning particular channels orprograms, setting recordings or other features associated with a PVR orplaceshifting feature, accessing further menuing features provided bythe receiver, and/or the like. Further, in many embodiments, thefeatures associated with one or more tiles may be individuallyconfigured by the viewer and/or a content provider to customize theinterface provided to the viewer by the receiver.

Turning now to the drawing figures and with initial reference to FIG. 1,an exemplary system 100 for presenting television signals to a viewersuitably includes a receiver 108 that receives signals 105 in any formatand generates appropriate outputs 107 to generate imagery 110 on display102. Typically, receiver 108 interacts with signals 129 received from awireless remote control 112 to present television imagery 110 on display102 as desired by the viewer. The various features presented in imagery110 may vary widely from embodiment to embodiment. The relative spacing,proportions and locations of the various windows and other featuresdescribed herein, for example, are entirely exemplary, and may varywidely in other embodiments. Other embodiments may similarly add or omitcertain features, or use the various features for purposes other thanthose described herein.

Television imagery is presented on display 102 in any manner. Further,two-dimensional navigation features may be presented to allow the viewerto access various features of receiver 108 through control of a cursor114 or other interface feature via remote control 112. In variousembodiments, cursor 114 is able to move in response to two-dimensionalinput signals 129, which are, in turn, generated in response to inputsapplied to two-dimensional input device 123. By moving cursor 114 tointeract with the two-dimensional navigation features presented ondisplay 102, various channels, programs, and/or other features may betuned, activated or otherwise manipulated as desired.

Receiver 108 is any component, device or logic capable of receiving anddecoding video signals 105. In various embodiments, receiver 108 is aset-top box (STB) or the like capable of receiving satellite, cable,broadcast and/or other signals encoding audio/visual content. Receiver108 may further demodulate or otherwise decode the received signals 105to extract programming that can be locally viewed on display 102 asdesired. Receiver 108 may also include a content database stored on ahard disk drive, memory, or other storage medium to support a digital orother personal video recorder (DVR/PVR) feature in some embodiments.Receiver 108 may also provide place shifting, electronic program guide,multi-stream viewing and/or other features as appropriate.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, receiver 108 is shownreceiving digital broadcast satellite (DBS) signals 105 from a satellite106 at an antenna 104. Equivalent embodiments, however, could receiveprogramming 105 from one or more programming sources, including any sortof satellite, cable or broadcast source, as well as any Internet orother network source or the like. In embodiments that include DVRfunctionality, programming may be stored in any sort of database asdesired (e.g., in response to user/viewer programming instructions) forsubsequent viewing. Content may also be received from digital versatiledisks (DVDs) or other removable media in some embodiments.

Display 102 is any device capable of presenting imagery 110 to a viewer.In various embodiments, display 102 is a conventional television set,such as any sort of television operating in accordance with any digitalor analog protocols, standards or other formats. Display 102 may be aconventional NTSC or PAL television receiver, for example. In otherembodiments, display 102 is a monitor or other device that may notinclude built-in receiver functionality, but that is neverthelesscapable of presenting imagery in response to signal 107 received fromreceiver 108. In various embodiments, receiver 108 and display 102 maybe physically combined or interconnected in any manner. A receiver card,for example, could be inserted into a slot or other interface in aconventional television, or the functionality of receiver 108 may beprovided within a conventional television display 102. In otherembodiments, signals 107 are transferred between receiver 108 anddisplay 102 using any sort of cable or other interface (including awireless interface). Examples of common interfaces include, withoutlimitation, component video, S-video, High-Definition MultimediaInterface (HDMI), Digital Visual Interface (DVI), IEEE 1394, and/or anyother formats as desired.

Remote control 112 is any sort of control device capable providingsignals 129 to receiver 108 that represent inputs received from one ormore viewers. Typically, remote control 112 is an infrared, radiofrequency (RF) or other wireless remote that includes any number ofbuttons or other features for receiving viewer inputs. In an exemplaryembodiment, remote control 112 communicates with receiver 108 using theIEEE 802.15.4 (“ZIGBEE”) protocol for wireless personal area networks(WPANs), although other embodiments may instead communicate using IEEE802.15.1 (“BLUETOOTH”), IEEE 802.11 (“WI-FI”), conventional infrared,and/or any other wireless techniques. In some embodiments, remotecontrol 112 may be able to support multiple types of wirelesscommunication, such as ZIGBEE communications and also infraredcommunications. This feature may be useful when remote control 112 is aso-called universal remote that is able to provide input signals 129 tomultiple devices.

Remote control 112 generally includes any sort of buttons, sliders,rocker switches and/or other features for receiving physical inputs fromthe viewer. As the user depresses or otherwise interacts with thefeatures, remote control 112 suitably produces wireless signals 129 inresponse. In further embodiments, remote control 112 includes atwo-dimensional input device 123 that is able to receive inputs from theuser in any multi-dimensional format (e.g, “X,Y”, “r,Θ”, and/or thelike). Examples of two-dimensional input devices 123 that could be usedin various embodiments include, without limitation, touchpads,directional pads, joysticks, trackballs, sets of arrows or otherbuttons, and/or the like. In a typical implementation, two-dimensionalinput device 123 provides coordinates or other signals 129 that indicateabsolute (e.g, “X,Y”) and/or relative (e.g., “ΔX,ΔY”) movement in two ormore dimensions. Such signals 129 may be decoded at controller 108 orelsewhere to coordinate the viewer's actions with respect to inputdevice 123 to movement of cursor 114 or other features presented ondisplay 102.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, remote control 112 isillustrated with a touchpad-type device 123 that accepts viewer inputsapplied with a finger, stylus or other object. FIG. 1 also showstouchpad device 123 as having dedicated scroll regions 122 and 127 forvertical and horizontal scrolling, respectively. Viewer movements withinregion 122 that are more-or-less parallel to the right edge of device123, for example, could result in vertical scrolling, whereas movementswithin region 127 that are more-or-less parallel to the bottom edge ofdevice 123 could result in horizontal scrolling. Dedicated scrollingregions 122, 127 are optional features, however, that may not be presentin all embodiments. Further, scrolling could be implemented in any othermanner.

In operation, then, receiver 108 suitably receives television signals105 from a satellite, cable, broadcast or other source. In a satellitebased embodiment, for example, one or more channels can be extractedfrom a conventional satellite feed; the video content on the selectedchannel can be demodulated, extracted and otherwise processed asappropriate to display the desired content to the viewer. One or morecable or broadcast channels may be similarly obtained in any manner. Insome embodiments, receiver 108 may obtain multiple channel signals fromdifferent sources (e.g., one channel from a cable or satellite sourceand another channel from a terrestrial broadcast, DVD or other source).

Receiver 108 suitably obtains the desired content from the channel(s)indicated by the viewer, and presents the content on display 102. Invarious embodiments, viewers are able to further view imagery (e.g., theimagery 110 shown in FIG. 1) that is responsive to two-dimensionalinputs generated using remote control 112. By moving cursor 114 withrespect to imagery 110, for example, tiles or other features can bepointed and selected to activate various features of receiver 108. Aviewer may tune receiver 108 to a particular channel or program, forexample, by directing cursor 114 toward a tile that is associated withthe desired feature, and then depressing a select or enter key on theremote 112 to select the indicated feature. Selected features may bedisplayed or otherwise activated as desired.

Imagery 110 may be organized and presented in any manner. In theexemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, imagery 110 includes any number oftiles 124A-E that are organized into one or more windows 125. Imagery110 also includes icons or other features 130, 132 for decreasing orincreasing (respectively) the size of window 125. Selecting feature 130with cursor 114, for example, could result in window 125 being removedfrom imagery 110, whereas selecting feature 132 could increase the sizeof window 125 so that more tiles 124 are viewable. In some embodiments,selecting feature 132 creates a full-screen view of tile window 125,although in other embodiments this may not be the case. Exemplaryimagery 110 in FIG. 1 also shows decoded television imagery presented inwindow 128. Other embodiments may show generated imagery (e.g., programguide information or the like) when tile window 125 is visible. FIG. 1also shows several tabs 126A-C that allow for different tile windows 125to be presented. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, tab 126A correspondsto an initial or default view, tab 126A corresponds to a view of allavailable tiles, and tab 126C corresponds to a window that presents asub-set of tiles selected by the viewer. Additional tabs 126 could alsobe provided to allow for multiple custom tile sets, or other features asdesired. The particular content presented as part of imagery 110, aswell as the layout, spacing, dimensions and particular presentationstyle of such content, may vary significantly from embodiment toembodiment.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, various interface tiles124A-E are each associated with a program, network, or other feature ofreceiver 108. Tile 124A, for example, is associated with a televisionnetwork (e.g., Home Box Office). Tile 124B is shown associated with adigital video recorder. Tile 124C is shown associated with an electronicprogram guide, and tiles 124D and 124E are shown associated with asearch feature and a customer service feature, respectively. Selectingtiles 124B or 124C in this example could open up interface windowsrelated to the DVR or EPG features, respectively, whereas selecting tile124D could lead to an interface feature that would allow the viewer tosearch for programs or other content available via a DVR, the EPG, aplaceshifting device, or any other source as desired. Customer servicetile 124E could allow the viewer to access customer service informationsuch as instructions on using receiver 108, billing information,information that allows for purchase or expansion of services, or anyother features as desired.

The particular tiles 124A-E shown in FIG. 1 are purely exemplary, andalternate embodiments may provide additional tiles, alternate tiles orfewer tiles as appropriate. Moreover, the various tiles may have anyshape, appearance or the like. Although tiles 124A-E in FIG. 1 aregenerally square or rectangular in shape, other embodiments couldprovide tiles that are round, or that have any regular or irregularshape whatsoever. Further, the information identifying each tile 124A-Eneed not be purely textual as shown in FIG. 1; alternate embodiments mayprovide tiles 124A-E with any sort of graphic, logo, text, numericalinformation and/or the like.

In various embodiments, the particular tiles displayed on any window 126are configurable so that the viewer and/or a service provider are ableto choose particular tiles for presentation on display 102. Tab 126C,for example, may allow a customized set of tiles to be provided for aparticular viewer or receiver 104. Tabs 126 may be selected in anymanner. Viewers may be able to drag tiles, for example, from the defaultview (tab 126A) or another view (e.g., the “all tiles” tab 126B) to thecustom tile view (e.g., tab 126C). Other embodiments may select tabs forcustom lists in any other manner. Further, the features performed bycertain tiles may be configurable. A “favorite channel” tile, forexample, could be configured to tune to a channel that is configurableby the viewer, since this feature would vary from viewer to viewer.Other parameters may be adjusted based on temporal factors, viewerpreferences, and/or other factors as appropriate.

FIG. 2 provides additional detail about an exemplary receiver 108 thatincludes a receiver interface 208, a decoder 214 and a display processor218, as appropriate. FIG. 2 also shows a disk controller interface 206to a disk or other storage device 110, an interface 210 to a local orwide area network, a transport select module 212, a display interface228, an RF receiver module and control logic 205. Other embodiments mayincorporate additional or alternate processing modules from those shownin FIG. 2, may omit one or more modules shown in FIG. 2, and/or maydifferently organize the various modules in any other manner differentfrom the exemplary arrangement shown in FIG. 2.

Receiver 108 may be physically and logically implemented in any manner.FIG. 2 shows various logical and functional features that may be presentin an exemplary device; each module shown in the figure may beimplemented with any sort of hardware, software, firmware and/or thelike. Any of the various modules may be implemented with any sort ofgeneral or special purpose integrated circuitry, for example, such asany sort of microprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor,programmed array and/or the like. Any number of the modules shown inFIG. 2, for example, may be implemented as a “system on a chip” (SoC)using any suitable processing circuitry under control of any appropriatecontrol logic 205. In various embodiments, control logic 205 executeswithin an integrated SoC or other processor that implements receiverinterface 208, transport selector 212, decoder 214, display processor218, disk controller 206 and/or other features, as appropriate. TheBroadcom Corporation of Irvine, Calif., for example, produces severalmodels of processors (e.g., the model BCM 7400 family of processors)that are capable of supporting SoC implementations of satellite and/orcable receiver systems, although products from any number of othersuppliers could be equivalently used. In still other embodiments,various distinct chips, circuits or components may be inter-connectedand inter-relate with each other to implement the receiving and decodingfunctions represented in FIG. 2.

Various embodiments of receiver 108 therefore include any number ofappropriate modules for obtaining and processing media content asdesired for the particular embodiment. Each of these modules may beimplemented in any combination of hardware and/or software using logicexecuted within any number of semiconductor chips or other processinglogic.

Various embodiments of control logic 205 can include any circuitry,components, hardware, software and/or firmware logic capable ofcontrolling the various components of receiver 108. Various routines,methods and processes executed within receiver 108 are typically carriedout under control of control logic 205, as described more fully below.Generally speaking, control logic 205 receives user input signals 129(FIG. 1) via an RF receiver interface 232 that is able to communicatewith the remote control 112 using a suitable antenna 234. Control logicreceives user inputs from remote control 112 and/or any other source,and directs the other components of receiver 108 in response to thereceived inputs to present the desired imagery on display 102.

As noted above, receiver 108 suitably includes a receiver interface 208,which is any hardware, software, firmware and/or other logic capable ofreceiving media content via one or more content sources 105. In variousembodiments, content sources 105 may include cable television, directbroadcast satellite (DBS), broadcast and/or other programming sources asappropriate. Receiver interface 208 appropriately selects a desiredinput source and provides the received content to an appropriatedestination for further processing. In various embodiments, receivedprogramming may be provided in real-time (or near real-time) to atransport stream select module 212 or other component for immediatedecoding and presentation to the user. Alternatively, receiver interface208 may provide content received from any source to a disk or otherstorage medium in embodiments that provide DVR functionality. In suchembodiments, receiver 108 may also include a disk controller module 206that interacts with an internal or external hard disk, memory and/orother device that stores content in a database 110, as described above.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, receiver 108 also includes anappropriate network interface 210, which operates using anyimplementation of protocols or other features to support communicationby receiver 108 on any sort of local area, wide area, telephone and/orother network. In various embodiments, network interface 210 supportsconventional LAN, WAN or other protocols (e.g., the TCP/IP or UDP/IPsuite of protocols widely used on the Internet) to allow receiver 108 tocommunicate on the Internet or any other network as desired. Networkinterface 210 typically interfaces with the network using any sort ofLAN adapter hardware, such as a conventional network interface card(NIC) or the like provided within receiver 108. Other embodiments mayprovide interfaces 210 to conventional telephone lines or othercommunications channels, or may omit network connectivity altogether.

Transport stream select module 212 is any hardware and/or software logiccapable of selecting a desired media stream from the available sources.In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, stream select module 212 is able togenerate video signals for presentation on one or more output interfaces228. Typically, transport select module 212 responds to viewer inputs(e.g., via control logic 205) to simply switch encoded content receivedfrom a broadcast, satellite, cable or other source 105 or from storage110 to one or more decoder modules 214.

Receiver 108 may include any number of decoder modules 214 for decoding,decompressing and/or otherwise processing received/stored content asdesired. Generally speaking, decoder module 214 decompresses, decodesand/or otherwise processes received content from stream select module212 to extract an MPEG or other media stream encoded within the stream.The decoded content can then be processed by one or more displayprocessor modules 218 to create a presentation on display 102 (FIG. 1)for the viewer in any appropriate format. FIG. 2 shows a single decodermodule 214 operating on one television signal received from transportselect module 212. In practice, any number of decoder modules 214 may beused, particularly in “picture in picture” (PIP) situations whenmultiple signals are simultaneously decoded and displayed. The term“decoder”, then, may collectively apply to one or more decoder modulesthat are able to decode one or more signals for presentation on display104.

Display processor module 218 includes any appropriate hardware, softwareand/or other logic to create desired screen displays via displayinterface 228 as desired. Such displays may include combining signalsreceived from one or more decoder modules 214 to facilitate viewing ofone or more channels. In various embodiments, display processing module218 is also able to produce on screen displays (OSDs) for electronicprogram guide, setup and control, input/output facilitation and/or otherfeatures that may vary from embodiment to embodiment. Such displays arenot typically contained within the received or stored broadcast stream,but are nevertheless useful to users in interacting with receiver 108 orthe like. The generated displays, including received/stored content andany other displays may then be presented to one or more outputinterfaces 228 in any desired format. The various interface featuresdescribed herein, for example, may be generated by display processormodule 218 operating alone or in conjunction with control logic 205.

Display processor 218 may also generate imagery 110 in response toviewer inputs received (and/or in response to instructions from commandlogic 205) to thereby make up a user interface that allows the viewerselect channels or programs, or to perform other tasks as desired. Whenthe viewer provides inputs at tiles 124 or any other user interfacefeatures, for example, display processor 218 may be operable to draw (orredraw) imagery 110 in response, and/or to present television contentidentified by the viewer, as appropriate. As receiver 108 receives userinputs 129 from remote control 112, control logic 205 may direct displayprocessor 218 to adjust any feature(s) of imagery 110 as directed by theviewer. Display processor 218 therefore directs the presentation ofimagery 110 in conjunction with one or more navigation features, andadjusts the imagery 110 in response to inputs received from the viewer.

Display processor 218 produces an output signal encoded in any standardformat (e.g., ITU656 format for standard definition television signalsor any format for high definition television signals) that can bereadily converted to standard and/or high definition television signalsat interface 228. In other embodiments, the functionality of displayprocessor 218 and interface 228 may be combined in any manner.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary presentation of imagery 110 that includes anynumber of tiles 124A-I and that would allow a viewer to select featuresusing a remote control 112 with two-dimensional input capability. Otherembodiments may incorporate imagery 110 of different sizes andconfigurations, and/or may allow for additional or other features in anymanner. Practical views of imagery 110 presented on display 102 may varywidely from that shown in FIG. 3 without departing from the conceptsdiscussed herein.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the viewer guides cursor 114 over oneor more tiles 124 or other images associated with imagery 110 using thetouchpad, motion sensor or other two-dimensional feature 123 associatedwith remote control 112. When the cursor 114 is positioned as desired,the viewer may be able to select the tile 124 or other feature bydepressing a “select” or “enter” key, as appropriate. The “select” keymay be a button or trigger on remote 112, for example, or may be anyother interface feature as desired.

As noted above, the particular features executed by any particular tilecan vary widely from embodiment to embodiment, and even from tile totile. Selecting a network tile (e.g., tile 124A), for example, mayresult in any actions associated with that network being executed. Aparticular channel could be tuned, for example, or other features couldbe provided as appropriate. Such features may include, for example,specific information about the network or programs produced by thenetwork. Other features could include scheduling or program guideinformation that is specific to the network. In still other embodiments,the viewer may be able to select and view preview clips, informationalclips, or other additional content about programs shown on theassociated network. Such information may be downloaded, for example, viaa digital network or via satellite, cable and/or other programmingsignals 105 delivered to receiver 108. In some embodiments, tiles (e.g.,network tile 124A) could be sponsored tiles in which a DBS, cable orother television service provider send instructions to receiver 108 todisplay a sponsored tile 124A at appropriate times.

Similarly, tiles associated with particular programs (e.g, tile 124H inFIG. 3) could be associated with any features relating to that program.In some embodiments, program tile 124H may be visible only when theassociated program is being broadcast, thereby allowing the program tobe immediately tuned by receiver 108 upon selection of tile 124H. Inother embodiments, selecting tile 124H could result in setting a DVR torecord an upcoming showing of the program. In still other embodiments,selecting tile 124H may result in the viewer being presented withadditional information about the associated program, such as “behind thescenes” informational clips, clips of interviews with people associatedwith the program, episode previews, or even entire episodes fordownload, “on demand” viewing, or other features as desired. In variousembodiments, some or all of the content presented in response toselection of program tile 124H is downloaded from a program source(e.g., satellite 106, or any service provider resource associated withany sort of DBS, cable or broadcast service) beforehand. In still otherembodiments, selecting a program tile 124H results in information aboutthe associated program being downloaded from a remote source. Suchdownload may take place immediately (e.g., over a digital network), orat a later time as appropriate.

Channel tiles (e.g., tiles 124F-G) may be associated with particularchannels in any manner. Selection of these tiles may result in theparticular channel being immediately tuned by receiver 108 so thatprogramming on that channel can be presented. In other embodiments,program guide information for that channel can be displayed so theviewer can see upcoming programming on that channel. In still otherembodiments, particular channels may provide other information (e.g.,RSS feeds for weather, traffic, local news and/or other information)that can be displayed in response to selection of the tile. Otherfeatures may be alternately or additionally provided as desired.

As noted above, other tiles could be formulated for any purpose orfeature. Other tiles may allow for viewer settings, for example, thatwould allow the viewer to configure receiver 108 in any manner. Tiles124B, 124C, 124I shown in FIG. 3 provide for DVR, EGP, or placeshiftingfeatures, respectively; simply clicking on these tiles could bring up awindow or other interface associated with the selected feature. Again,additional or alternate features may be provided as well.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary process 400 for graphically processing inputsin a television receiver or the like. In various embodiments, the stepsshown in FIG. 4 may be executed using source or object code in anyformat that may be stored in mass storage, firmware, memory or any otherdigital storage medium within receiver 108. Such code may be executed byany module or combination of modules operating within receiver 108. Inan exemplary embodiment, some or all of the steps shown in process 400are executed by control logic 205 (FIG. 2) operating alone or inconjunction with a display processing module 218 and/or the variousother features shown in FIG. 2 and described above. While FIG. 4specifically shows a technique for tuning channels on a televisionreceiver, the concepts set forth in the figure and accompanying textcould be used to perform other tasks, such as recording programs,selecting programs, searching and/or taking other actions asappropriate. The various steps and actions set forth in FIG. 4 maytherefore be supplemented or otherwise modified in any manner.

With reference now to FIG. 4, an exemplary method 400 for graphicallyproviding various features in a television receiver 108 suitablyincludes the broad steps of displaying imagery 110 that includes one ormore tiles 124 (step 402), receiving inputs from a two-dimensional inputdevice 123 (step 404), and processing the received inputs as appropriateto provide the various features directed by the viewer (step 406).Selection and providing of features may be repeated (step 410) on anyregular, irregular or other basis. The steps of method 400 may takeplace in any other temporal order other than that shown in FIG. 4,and/or additional or alternate steps may be provided in alternateembodiments. The actual steps shown in FIG. 4 may be combined or omittedin still other embodiments.

Step 402 suitably involves presenting imagery 110 with one or more tiles124 (e.g., tiles 124A-I in FIGS. 1 and 3). As noted above, each tileappropriately corresponds to one or more desired features provided byreceiver 104; examples of such features include channel or programtuning, providing content associated with a network, channel, program,DVR, EPG, placeshifting feature, customer service feature, and/or thelike. In various embodiments, tiles 124 are incorporated within any sortof imagery 110 generated by display processing module 218 and presentedon display 102.

The viewer interacts with the presented tiles 124 in any manner. Asnoted above, in various embodiments the viewer provides inputs toreceiver 104 using a remote control 112 that incorporates atwo-dimensional input device 123 such as a touchpad, motion sensor,directional pad, joystick, trackball and/or the like. Signals 129 fromremote control 112 provide receiver 104 with appropriate information todirect the position of cursor 114 on imagery 110, and to indicate viewerselections of tiles 124 as appropriate.

In response to the viewer selecting a tile 124, receiver 104 suitablyprovides the feature(s) associated with the selected tile in any manner(step 408). The particular features, as noted above, can varysignificantly from embodiment to embodiment and tile to tile. Somefeatures may include tuning to a selected channel or program, providingdownloaded content, providing an interface for additional options (e.g.,channel selection, placeshifting, recording, search, deviceconfiguration, preference selection and/or the like), or taking anyother actions as appropriate. As noted above, the tiles 124 presented inimagery 110 may be configurable by the viewer in any manner, as may thefeatures executed by one or more tiles 124. Accordingly, new systems andtechniques are presented for graphically providing various features in atelevision receiver or the like using two-dimensional graphicalinteraction between the viewer and a tile or other feature presented ondisplay 102.

As used herein, the word “exemplary” means “serving as an example,instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein asexemplary is not necessarily to be construed as preferred oradvantageous over other implementations.

While the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled inthe art with a convenient road map for implementing various embodimentsof the invention, it should be appreciated that the particularembodiments described above are only examples, and are not intended tolimit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in anyway. To the contrary, various changes may be made in the function andarrangement of elements described without departing from the scope ofthe invention.

1. A method for graphically providing a plurality of features in atelevision receiver configured to present imagery on a display inresponse to viewer instructions received from a remote control, themethod comprising: receiving viewer instructions to select a customizedset of tiles from a plurality of available tiles, wherein each of theplurality of available tiles is configured to be associated with one ofthe plurality of features, and wherein at least some of the plurality ofavailable tiles activate functions of the television receiver, whereineach of customized set of tiles is a graphical image representing afunction performed by the television receiver and wherein each of thecustomized set of tiles is selected by the viewer from the plurality ofavailable tiles for inclusion in the customized set of tiles, wherein atleast one of the plurality of available tiles activates a digital videorecorder function of the television receiver, and wherein at least oneof the customized set of tiles is associated with a television channel,wherein features that the tile associated with the television channelcomprise causing the television channel to be tuned by the televisionreceiver and causing program guide information for the televisionchannel to be displayed based upon a user configuration of the tileassociated with the television channel, and wherein a selection of thetile associated with the television channel causes the televisionchannel to be tuned or the program guide information to be displayedbased on the user configuration; outputting the imagery for presentationon the display, wherein the imagery comprises the customized set oftiles; receiving a subsequent viewer instruction from the remote controlthat indicates one of the customized set of tiles; and in response tothe subsequent viewer instruction indicating one of the customized setof tiles, controlling the television receiver to thereby provide theparticular user-selected feature associated with the indicated tile. 2.The method of claim 1 wherein the customized set of tiles is selected bythe viewer by dragging selected tiles from the plurality of availabletiles.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the dragging comprises draggingselected tiles from a portion of the imagery that presents the pluralityof available tiles to a separate portion of the imagery associated withthe customized set of tiles.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein at leastone of the customized set of tiles is associated with a feature thatactivates an electronic program guide function of the televisionreceiver, wherein the tile associated with the function of the receivercontrols a digital recorder function of the receiver, and wherein thetile associated with the electronic program guide function is presentedin the same customized set of tiles as the tile associated with thedigital video recorder function.
 5. The method of claim 4 wherein atleast one of the customized set of tiles is associated with feature thatactivates a placeshifting function of the television receiver, whereinthe tile associated with the function of the receiver controls a digitalrecorder function of the receiver, and wherein the tile associated withthe electronic program guide function is presented in the samecustomized set of tiles as the tile associated with the digital videorecorder function.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of thecustomized set of tiles is associated with a feature that activates acustomer service function of the television receiver, wherein the tileassociated with the function of the receiver controls a digital recorderfunction of the receiver, and wherein the tile associated with thecustomer service function is presented in the same customized set oftiles as the tile associated with the digital video recorder function.7. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the customized set oftiles is associated with a feature that plays back a program that hasbeen downloaded to the television receiver, wherein the tile associatedwith the function of the receiver controls a digital recorder functionof the receiver, and wherein the tile associated with the downloadedprogram is presented in the same customized set of tiles as the tileassociated with the digital video recorder function.
 8. The method ofclaim 1 further comprising receiving an instruction from a remote serverto present the customized set of tiles as part of the imagery presentedon the display.
 9. The method of claim 1 further comprising identifyingthe selected one of the customized set of tiles based upon a position ofa cursor that moves within the imagery presented on the display inresponse to viewer input signals received from the remote control.
 10. Amethod for selecting a desired channel in a television receiverconfigured to present imagery on a display in response to viewerinstructions transmitted from a remote control, the method comprising:receiving viewer instructions to select a customized set of tiles from aplurality of available tiles, wherein each of the plurality of availabletiles is configured to graphically represent one of a plurality offeatures provided by the television receiver, and wherein a first one ofthe plurality of available tiles is associated with a feature thatactivates a digital video recorder function on the television receiverand a second one of the plurality of available tiles is associated withthe desired channel; outputting the imagery for presentation on thedisplay, wherein the imagery comprises the customized set of tilesselected by the viewer, and wherein the first one of the plurality ofavailable tiles associated with the digital video recorder and thesecond one of the plurality of available tiles associated with thedesired channel are simultaneously presented on the display in a commonbank of tiles for viewer selection; receiving an input from the remotecontrol that graphically indicates a selected one of the customized setof tiles from the common bank of tiles; in response to the receivedinput indicating that the viewer has selected the tile associated withthe desired channel, wherein features the tile associated with thedesired channel comprise causing the desired channel to be tuned by thetelevision receiver and causing program guide information for thedesired channel to be displayed based upon a user configuration of thetile associated with the desired channel, controlling the televisionreceiver to thereby present programming from the desired channel on thedisplay or present program guide information for the desired channel onthe display based on the user configuration of the tile associated withthe desired channel; and in response to the received input indicatingthat the viewer has selected the tile associated with the digital videorecorder function, controlling to the television receiver to therebyactivate an interface that allows the viewer to control the digitalvideo recorder.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein the channel numberassociated with the selected tile is configurable by the viewer.
 12. Avideo receiver for presenting imagery on a display in response to viewerinput signals provided from a remote control, the receiver comprising: areceiver interface configured to receive an incoming modulated signal; adecoder configured to decode the incoming modulated signal to extract avideo signal; a storage device configured to record at least some of theprograms received with the video signal and thereby implement a digitalvideo recorder function; a wireless receiver configured to receive theviewer input signals from the remote control; and a processor configuredprovide graphical control over the receiving and presentation of thevideo signal in response to viewer graphical interaction with acustomized set of tiles that are selected by the viewer from a pluralityof available tiles, wherein each of the plurality of available tilesgraphically represents one of a plurality of features provided by thevideo receiver, and wherein a first one of the plurality of availabletiles is associated with the digital video recorder function of thevideo receiver, wherein a second one of the plurality of available tilesis associated with a television channel, and wherein the processor isfurther configured to generate the imagery output to the display forpresentation, wherein the imagery comprises the customized set of tiles,and wherein the processor is further configured to receive the viewerinput signals from the remote control, and, in response to the receivedinput graphically indicating the tile representing the digital videorecorder function of the video receiver, to change the imagery output tothe display to include the interface associated with the digital videorecorder function, and, in response to the received input graphicallyindicating the tile representing the television channel, whereinfeatures the tile associated with the television channel comprisecausing the television channel to be tuned by the television receiverand causing program guide information for the television channel to bedisplayed based upon a user configuration of the tile associated withthe television channel, to change the imagery output to display eithercurrent programming on the television channel or program guideinformation for that television channel based on the user configurationof the tile representing the television channel.
 13. The video receiverof claim 12 wherein the receiver interface comprises a satelliteinterface.
 14. The video receiver of claim 12 wherein the receiverinterface comprises a cable interface.
 15. The video receiver of claim12 wherein the wireless receiver is configured to receive the inputsignals from a wireless remote control comprising a two-dimensionalinput device.
 16. The video receiver of claim 15 wherein thetwo-dimensional input device is a touchpad.
 17. The video receiver ofclaim 12 wherein the processor is further configured to control thedigital video recorder function in response to subsequent viewer inputsignals received from the remote control.
 18. The video receiver ofclaim 12 wherein the processor is further configured to identify theselected one of the customized set of tiles based upon a position of acursor that moves on the display in response to the viewer inputsignals.
 19. The video receiver of claim 12 wherein the processor isconfigured to display both the programming and the program guideinformation, in response to the received input graphically indicatingthe tile representing the television channel, and wherein whether theprocessor displays the programming or the program guide information isuser-configurable.
 20. The video receiver of claim 19 wherein a thirdone of the plurality of available tiles is associated with a furthertelevision channel, wherein selection of the tile associated with thefurther television channel causes an RSS feed to be displayed.